Barbara Flores, SCN welcomed the leadership and Pat Wilson, SCH led the opening prayer with the theme, “In This Moment of Time.” Florence Hee, OSF then asked those present to reflect on what God is asking as they create a shared future for the Federation.

Barbara Flores, SCN introduced Mary McCormick, SCNY and Melissa Comardo, SCL, who engaged in a conversation to break open the theme of the meeting, Now is the Time. S. Mary distinguished between Chronos time and Kairos time. Chronos time is marked by business as usual, while Kairos time involves the in-breaking of the Spirit, which turns everything upside down.

Mary recalled Kairos moments in the Federation’s history:

The 1947 meeting in which the six Setonian congregations met in Emmitsburg for a common purpose

In the 1980s the Setonian Federation invited the Sisters of Charity of the Immaculate Conception who were more connected to Vincent de Paul and Louise de Marillac than to Elizabeth Seton

The 1995 conversation between Setonian six and everyone else, when the decision was made to form the Sisters of Charity Federation

The formation of the Company of Charity Formation Personnel group (CCFP)

The Federation’s collaborations: the Seton Writings Committee, the Shared Vision group, the House of Charity, the writing of the history of the Federation, the NGO representative at the U.N.

The decision in 2005 to hire an Executive Director, which has opened up the Federation to the world-wide Vincentian Family

Melissa observed that each kairos moment required a Chronos moment to plan and to build structures that enabled the Federation to stabilize itself and grow.

Mary observed that, in order to pave the way for transformation that can bring us to the next kairos moment, we need the past, which has the lessons we need for today and which calls us to gratitude for all who have put faith and trust into the Federation. S. Melissa added that the graces of the present include our members and their lived experiences of following Christ, our growing contemplative stance, and our ability to listen through contemplative dialogue.

Melissa stated that the Federation needs the following graces for today: boldness, urgency and shared vulnerability. We need to live into an intercultural ethos in which there is no dominant culture, to embrace and live “a new frontier of the heart.” We need to feel a mission-directed urgency to alleviate the suffering of people around the world today. We need to be prudent and wise, but not wait until everything is in place to act. We need to overcome our fear of failure, which ties into the concept of vulnerability.

Mary outlined what can be expected if we are ready to embrace transformation:

There will be resistance to the very thought of change, for there is no gain without pain.

When one is up against the wall (the recognition on our part of our limits), look for the door (find a way over, around or under the wall of resistance).

There is beauty in the messiness of transformation.

Can we trust in Divine Providence in this new time of boldness?

Mary and S. Melissa’s conversation concluded with a video refection with the song, “If Not Now” by Carrie Newcomer.

The Federation members engaged in personal sharing, followed by group sharing on S. Mary and S. Melissa’s presentation. The Federation was then invited to share comments with and pose questions to S. Mary and S. Melissa.

At the conclusion of the morning, Joan Cook, SCC stated all are aware of the plight of migrants at the Mexican/U.S. border and the strong stance of the U.S. Bishops about the injustice of this situation. There was overwhelming support to draft a statement which could be affirmed by the Federation leadership.

In the afternoon, the Sisters visited Caritas, which is the residence and administrative offices for the Sisters of Charity-Halifax. Joanne Burns-Theriault, Coordinator of Caritas welcomed the Sisters and Mary Flynn, Congregational Archivist, and Mary Palardy, SCH, Heritage Coordinator, gave a presentation on the heritage garden, paintings, and archival records on display. The heritage garden was created in 2010 with the designation of the arrival of the Sisters in Halifax as an event of historical significance. A new interpretive panel on truth and reconciliation was installed earlier in the day.

Following the visit to Caritas, the members enjoyed a dinner cruise around the Halifax Harbour and Northwest Arm.

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About the Federation

The Sisters of Charity Federation of North America is a voluntary membership association of 14 congregations of women religious that number over 2,500 sisters. Impelled by Christ’s love and joined together in the mission of charity, we respond to the cries of people living in poverty and on the margins.